Shillong, June 26 (IANS) Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Friday said the state’s unique matrilineal system, where women are custodians of land and agriculture, offers valuable lessons for the world in promoting sustainable farming and strengthening food security.

Addressing the International Conference on Women Farmers and Sustainable Organic Agriculture at the State Convention Hall here, Sangma said women occupy a central role in Meghalaya’s agricultural landscape, and their ownership of land has helped foster a strong sense of responsibility, commitment and sustainability in farming practices.

He said the state’s governance model has consistently placed farmers, particularly women, at the centre of its development agenda over the past eight years, with the government implementing farmer-centric policies aimed at building a resilient and sustainable agricultural ecosystem.

Sangma said Meghalaya has consciously adopted development strategies suited to its own geographical, cultural and ecological strengths instead of replicating models from elsewhere.

According to him, strengthening community institutions has been a key priority, with significant growth in self-help groups and farmer producer organisations helping improve collective action, market access and rural livelihoods.

The Chief Minister stressed that indigenous agricultural knowledge and traditional farming practices of the Northeast should be preserved and promoted alongside modern scientific innovations.

He said the region possesses a rich natural heritage that has sustained communities for generations and called for blending traditional wisdom with technology to enhance productivity without compromising ecological balance.

Emphasising regional cooperation, Sangma said the Northeast should be viewed as one integrated region with shared ecological and cultural characteristics. Such an approach, he noted, would enable governments and stakeholders to scale up successful initiatives, attract greater investments and create a stronger global impact in sustainable organic agriculture.

He also underlined the importance of forging partnerships with institutions, development agencies and the private sector to mobilise resources, encourage innovation and expand the reach of organic farming initiatives while ensuring that farmers’ interests remain protected.

The conference, organised by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare in collaboration with IFOAM – Organics Asia, brought together national and international delegates, policymakers, experts and stakeholders to deliberate on strengthening women-led agriculture, conserving natural heritage and advancing sustainable organic farming practices through greater collaboration and knowledge sharing.

–IANS

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